Vol 2, No 13
Articles in this issue
- A leading article arguing that the bicycling gentleman is defined by never needlessly inflicting pain, avoiding the shout at the nursemaid, the reckless descent and the self-awarded "Victoria Cross" of the boastful racer. It closes by pressing the case of the promised Ladies' Challenge Prize for L.B.C. champions, which the Editor hears may now never be presented.
- Report of the Oxford v. Cambridge races at the O.U.A.C. ground on 10 May: H. R. Reynolds (New College) won the two miles in 6min. 2sec., A. A. E. Weir (Worcester) the ten miles in 31min. 5sec., and W. L. Ainslie beat C. H. F. Christie by a yard and a half over twenty-five miles in 1hr. 19min. 23½sec. All six ten-mile riders beat the previous amateur record, and the Hon. I. Keith-Falconer rode a mile in 2min. 54sec. afterwards.
- A reminder that the Club's evening meeting takes place at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday 27th at 6 p.m., entries closing on the 17th with the Hon. Sec. Members are asked to publicise the race and tickets will be circulated with the next Gazette.
- Heat-by-heat account of the bicycle handicap at Stamford Bridge, won in the final by J. R. Hamilton (L.A.C.) from Baker, Runtz and Rucker with only a yard covering the first four. In the third heat Herbert struck bandmaster Mr. Waterson of the 1st Life Guards, who had walked on to the course; the bandmaster was left insensible but recovered under Dr. Balkwill's care.
- A hostile account, compiled from several eyewitnesses, calling the meet the worst spectacle yet held, blaming the committee's decision to start through Bushey Park and the riders' inability to keep files closed, and ridiculing the gold-braided "monkeys on wheels" ("Lor, maester, be thee a Deity or a Dook?"). G. P. Coleman's count near the Teddington Gates gave 1,381 riders, best attendances Temple 37, Pickwick 36, Stanley 35.
- A humorous essay by "Rusticus" on how a rider's family regards his machine: the father talked round to paying for it, the mother expecting him home on a shutter, sisters secretly longing to ride tricycles, and envious brothers. It ends with the family in the grand stand cheering Freddy through a spurt.
- First of an alphabetical series describing the best machines of the day. No. 1 is the "Albert" (late Timberlake) by Moir, Hutchins & Co., praised for its pear-shaped Stanley head, weldless steel backbone, unbuckleable wheels, patent rack-and-pinion brake and undetachable tyres, from £14 6s. for a 50-inch; the Alliance by Garrard & Co. of Uxbridge follows as a plain 35 lb. roadster.
- District reports for the Saturday of the Hampton Court meet: the N.E. rode to the "White Hart" at Abridge; Palmer Dalton's N.W. party of ten went via Kenton and Ruislip to Harefield, 36 miles; the Western district ran through Greenford and Uxbridge, where C. E. Law fell heavily on a new 56-in. Invincible; the S.E. reached Crawley and the "Railway Inn"; the S.W. trio rode via Ewell to Reigate.
- Tabulated forthcoming meets for the five districts, including Kew Green at 3.45 p.m. for Ripley (W. district meeting S.E. and S.W.), Jack Straw's Castle for St. Albans and Essendon, and Central Croydon Station for East Grinstead. The W. district's first Wednesday evening run is announced for 4 June (full moon), Acton Church 6.30 p.m. for Burnham Beeches.
- A dated list from John Keen's Handicap at Surbiton on 17 May through to the Lombard B.C. mile at Catford Bridge on 19 July, taking in the L.B.C. Bath Race, the three Bicycle Union Championships at 1, 5 and 25 miles, and the Pickwick Bicycle Club meeting at the Alexandra Palace.
- Two letters to the Editor at 35, Eastcheap: Palmer Dalton on the Club's poor collective riding, and Theo. Godlee replying to the Honorary Secretary about members' registered addresses.
- Palmer Dalton complains that only about 30 of 240 members attend district meets, urges practice at mounting, dismounting and hill-riding, and asks riders to "lock up" their files rather than straggle. He also presses for lamps at night and against rushing downhill past the men in front.
- Standing notice that contributions must go to the Editor, L.B.C. Gazette, 35, Eastcheap, E.C., bear the author's name, be written on one side of the paper and arrive by Monday morning for immediate insertion.